The Federal Government’s computers in schools program has had a dramatic impact on the shape of school IT departments across the nation, a joint committee hearing into the Digital Education Revolution Program – National Secondary Schools Computer Fund has heard.
A paperless classroom could be one step closer, with Acer announcing plans to deliver e-books to Australian secondary school students via its Iconia Tab range.
The Federal Government has claimed it is on track to fully deliver a total of 696,000 PCs under its Computers in Schools program, however current rollout rates suggest a shortfall of some 203,143 computers by the initiative’s December 2011 deadline.
Schools will choose between technology and tuckshops under Coalition plans to axe the $2.1 billion computers-in-schools and $16.2 billion Building Education Revolution (BER) schemes, pending further policy announcements.
The Federal Government has moved to reassure the public that its Computers in Schools program is still on track to deliver one computer per student in years 9 to 12 by the end of 2011.